The books below are essential reading for anybody considering trading stocks and shares. They explain the theories and strategies used by the experts.

Beyond the Zulu Principle (Recommended)Written by Jim Slater

From this book, readers will learn when to buy shares and, even more importantly, when to sell. Other aspects of investment are covered - such as creative accounting, portfolio management, overseas markets and the investor's relationship with their broker. This book is designed to help readers make extraordinary profits from ordinary shares.

Ever spent half the night worrying that you're going to wind up penniless in your old age? No? Then it's high time you did, according to the Motley Fool's UK Investment Guide. The Fool lays bare the murky world of personal investment; how independent financial advisers aren't so independent, how unit trusts are badly managed, how putting your money in the building society is often the least safe option and how the professionals have a vested interest in keeping you in the dark.

How to Make Money in Stocks : A Winning System in Good Times or Bad (Recommended)Written by William J. O'Neil

Following on the success of the previous edition, this revised text offers rational, well-documented guidance for anyone who wants to make smart investments - even people who have never owned stock before. It explains how to: make money reading the daily financial news pages; pick the best industry groups in the market; read charts like an expert to improve stock selection and timing; and reduce losses and mistakes.

Interviewing such personalities as Michael Marcus - who turned a $30,000 account into $80 million - and Tom Baldwin - a former meat- packing plant manager who now trades up to $2 billion worth of T-bond futures a day -, Jack D. Schwager gets these top traders and others to disclose their various trading approaches and personal rules and secrets for their success. Jack D. Schwager is the author of "The New Market Wizards".

Mr. weinstein has written a very imformative book chock full of technical knowledge that he's very ably translated into layman's terms. Also, unlike some of the big writers in this field, his advice is totally consistant with no ambiguity and no preening ego. He tries to make a science of charting, eliminating all emotion in the trading process. He stresses discipline with trailing stops etc. All of this leads to a system that still won't let you pick winners more than 50% of the time but WILL get you out of bad picks quickly and let you safely ride the winners up. If you use his system with discipline you will never buy at the very bottom and you'll never sell out at the very top - but you'll make money and you'll NEVER lose your shirt.

The Mind of a Trader : Lessons in Trading Strategy from the World's Leading Traders
Written by Alpesh B. Patel

This title explores the trading philosophies, behaviour and tactics of some of the world's most effective professional traders from the USA, Europe and Asia. It also aims to identify successful trading strategies.

Bernice Cohen is a self-taught investor who plays the markets from her suburban semi. Inspired by the stream of correspondence she received from her investment column in "The Mail on Sunday", this book sets out her investment programme and explains the "Fastergains" concept.

Learn to Earn : A Beginner's Guide to the Basics of Investing and Business
Written by Peter Lynch, John Rothchild

Many investors, including some with substantial portfolios, have only the sketchiest idea of how the stock market works. This book claims this that the basics of investing - the fundamentals of the economic system and what they have to do with the stock market - aren't taught in school. When individuals have to make important decisions about saving for college and retirement funds, this failure to provide a basic eduction in investing can have tragic consequences.

Secrets of the Investment All-Stars
Written by Ken Stern, Kenneth A. Stern

Most people want to make money, and millions of baby-boomers are desperately seeking sound investments with which to feather their retirement nest eggs. This text gleans the knowledge and experience of several investment "gurus" to help anyone's investment portfolio grow.

Book of Investing Wisdom : Classic Writings by Great Stock Pickers and Legends of Wall Street
Written by Peter Krass

An anthology of 50 essays and speeches from such luminaries as Charles Dow, B.C. Forbes, Carl Icahn, Andrew Mellon, Peter Lynch and George Soros. The different personalities of the investors and their environment comes across in their "speaking" styles. Every selection has an introduction by the editor, giving the relevant background on each contributor. The book is organized by theme, helping readers to focus easily on information and advice on a particular topic. The themes include: the right attitude for successful investing; theory and strategy; market cycles and behaviour; international opportunities; investment vehicles; and personal finance.

A guide to profitable ethical investing, this text includes a diagnostic programme so investors can test and identify their principles and concerns, invest in companies that make a positive contribution to society, and avoid those companies whose practices are harmful.